Bearing puller for washing machines

Claim 1

A tool for removing the annular upper spin tube bearing from an automatic washing machine having a generally cylindrical main bearing housing supported by a pair of angulated legs above a mounting plate having an access opening therein through which the bottom of said main bearing housing is accessible, said tool comprising; a. an elongated rigid sheath having: (i) an upper cylinder; and, (ii) a lower cylinder coaxial with and of larger diameter larger than said upper cylinder and dimensioned to fit over said main bearing housing; b. said lower cylinder having two opposed cut away portions to receive said legs and a lower plane-defining edge to rest on said mounting plate such that the interior of said cylinder is accessible through the opening in said plate; c. said upper cylinder having an upper end plate thereover with a bore therethrough; d. a second plate having a central bore therein and disposed atop said lower cylinder such that said upper cylinder is supported on said second plate and including means to retain said second plate on said lower cylinder and center said upper cylinder on said second plate; e. a threaded shaft extending through the bores in said plates and passing through said cylinders; f. a removable pressure disc retained on the lower end of said shaft, said pressure disc being of a diameter greater than the interior diameter of said upper spin tube bearing; g. a threaded nut disposed on said shaft above said end plate, whereby said cylinder can be disposed over a main bearing housing of a washer with the cut-away portions oriented over the angulated legs thereof, and said shaft can be lowered through said cylinder and through the upper spin tube bearing of said machine, said disc can be retained on the lower end of said shaft, and by rotating said threaded nut to elevate said shaft, said upper spin tube bearing will be removed from the bearing housing.